Costumes, jewelry, makeup & bling....
It's no secret - here at Firefly Belly Dance our dancers love costuming, jewelry, makeup & all the bling, so if you do too you're in the right place!
It can be a bit overwhelming though when you start to realize just how much costuming our performance group actually owns (where do they even keep it?!) - especially if you'd like to start performing at some stage & start to wonder where do we get it & importantly just how much it all costs, so this is a bit of an explanation about how we generally operate with troupe & performance costuming, with an extra note about troupe costuming for 2020 after the lockdown & with potential uncertainty around income for many.
New Dancers
You don't require any costuming at all or special clothing for class - just whatever you can comfortably move in. Most people wear a hip scarf to class to help define the hip line but I have heaps of spares you can use and if you decide you'd like your own they can be found at thrift stores (usually in the 'retro' section) for around $5.
Dancers Beginning to Perform
You won't need to buy any costuming to do your first few performances as they are likely to be at hafla or Open Floor events (our casual show/party evenings at the end of term) or community events such as markets where we wear one of our standard base costumes of which there are plenty of spares around - the regular Firefly Belly Dance performance troupe is quite large & there are always some who can't make it to any given event so spare costumes are generally available.
Most of our performance troupe are very happy to lend many of their costume items to newer dancers and to each other - it's completely standard & it's actually fun to see your costume items on stage with someone else enjoying wearing them. Of course we need to treat any borrowed items with a lot of care and return them in the same condition we got them in. It's also preferable to get hold of any loaned items early to dance in them in class to make sure they are a good secure fit. I have some costuming that I keep specifically for new dancers to use so please don't feel like needing to borrow costuming is an imposition :)
Dancers Wanting to Perform More Regularly
At this stage you will be more familiar with what our current regular costuming is and able to identify what items would be a good investment to have your own version of - there are always some base costume items it's handy to have your own to ensure a good fit and if you would like to perform on a regular bases there is some expectation that you will begin to acquire a few of your own costume items; often they are either inexpensive or can be purchased second hand from another dancer. The other common places we get costuming are online via eBay etc and by getting together for sewing bees to make a full new set of costume items together (don't worry if you can't sew as someone needs to cut the fabric & make the tea anyway ;).
These base items may change from year to year but at the moment include a black lace back top, a choli top, a black-topped dip-dye skirt, a 'Steph' skirt, pantaloons and various belt varieties. If you would like to see any of these items, try them on or get a current link for online items please ask me or post in the facebook group & we will help you with that.
Even among our regular performers we still lend each other costume items as we often recycle costume items from previous years where not everyone was in the class or event that we originally used it for.
Christmas in the Park, Steampunk Festival, Firefly Belly Dance Annual Theatre Show etc
For these events we generally know for a decent amount of time that we are preforming in them and that some expense will be involved for costuming, however we try to keep it economical by recycling previous costume elements, making our own costume items and purchasing items in bulk to be able to request discounts & save on postage.
Where to Buy Costume Items & Some Price Estimates
Our costumes come from all over the place! I often have costume and jewelry items for sale which I post our facebook group & also bring to class. Other dancers will also sell their second hand costuming in the facebook group so keep an eye out there. When there is a specific item required for a performance like the Steampunk Festival etc there will be a link posted in the facebook group for everyone to get it from the same source, or we may purchase them all together.
As much of our costuming is from ebay etc you don't get to see it before you buy it so if you have any doubt as to whether something is actually what you are looking for feel free to send me a link before you buy it & I'll check it for you.
- Black lace-back top: $15 eBay/Ali Express (ask in group for current link)
- Black-top 25yard dip-dye skirt: $60 - $90 various sellers on eBay/Ale Express etc or second hand from another dancer
- Choli top: $15 - 25 we often do group purchases for these so ask at the time what is on high rotation for performances
- Pantaloons: $20 most often we make these ourselves or at a sewing bee as we like them more voluminous than those available online. Ask for a pair to take home if you'd like to copy the design to sew your own, they are pretty straightforward to make.
A Note About New Performance Troupe Costuming in 2020
Most years there are a few 'official troupe costume' items that all current regular performance troupe members should purchase or make, examples are the yellow dip dye skirts we did a bulk order for, the Steph skirts, the sparkly red panels for CCCiTP & the Theatre Royal performance and our brocade pantaloons etc.
For 2020 there won't be any official troupe costume items that current or new members of the performance troupe all need to purchase; I would like to avoid anyone feeling pressure to purchase group items when finances may be less predicable or secure than prior to the lockdown - that is not to say that those who would like new costuming won't be able to perform in it, just that we need to have an alternative option available already in our wardrobe for those who prefer not to purchase new costuming right now. An example of this will be the red 'assuit' pantaloons that some people are purchasing - the alternative to those will be the existing gold pantaloons which we have spares of, and if some would like to purchase new skirts we can also use those for performances but have a specific alternative option that looks good together and those will become a set.
Any questions about any of the above just let me know!
It can be a bit overwhelming though when you start to realize just how much costuming our performance group actually owns (where do they even keep it?!) - especially if you'd like to start performing at some stage & start to wonder where do we get it & importantly just how much it all costs, so this is a bit of an explanation about how we generally operate with troupe & performance costuming, with an extra note about troupe costuming for 2020 after the lockdown & with potential uncertainty around income for many.
New Dancers
You don't require any costuming at all or special clothing for class - just whatever you can comfortably move in. Most people wear a hip scarf to class to help define the hip line but I have heaps of spares you can use and if you decide you'd like your own they can be found at thrift stores (usually in the 'retro' section) for around $5.
Dancers Beginning to Perform
You won't need to buy any costuming to do your first few performances as they are likely to be at hafla or Open Floor events (our casual show/party evenings at the end of term) or community events such as markets where we wear one of our standard base costumes of which there are plenty of spares around - the regular Firefly Belly Dance performance troupe is quite large & there are always some who can't make it to any given event so spare costumes are generally available.
Most of our performance troupe are very happy to lend many of their costume items to newer dancers and to each other - it's completely standard & it's actually fun to see your costume items on stage with someone else enjoying wearing them. Of course we need to treat any borrowed items with a lot of care and return them in the same condition we got them in. It's also preferable to get hold of any loaned items early to dance in them in class to make sure they are a good secure fit. I have some costuming that I keep specifically for new dancers to use so please don't feel like needing to borrow costuming is an imposition :)
Dancers Wanting to Perform More Regularly
At this stage you will be more familiar with what our current regular costuming is and able to identify what items would be a good investment to have your own version of - there are always some base costume items it's handy to have your own to ensure a good fit and if you would like to perform on a regular bases there is some expectation that you will begin to acquire a few of your own costume items; often they are either inexpensive or can be purchased second hand from another dancer. The other common places we get costuming are online via eBay etc and by getting together for sewing bees to make a full new set of costume items together (don't worry if you can't sew as someone needs to cut the fabric & make the tea anyway ;).
These base items may change from year to year but at the moment include a black lace back top, a choli top, a black-topped dip-dye skirt, a 'Steph' skirt, pantaloons and various belt varieties. If you would like to see any of these items, try them on or get a current link for online items please ask me or post in the facebook group & we will help you with that.
Even among our regular performers we still lend each other costume items as we often recycle costume items from previous years where not everyone was in the class or event that we originally used it for.
Christmas in the Park, Steampunk Festival, Firefly Belly Dance Annual Theatre Show etc
For these events we generally know for a decent amount of time that we are preforming in them and that some expense will be involved for costuming, however we try to keep it economical by recycling previous costume elements, making our own costume items and purchasing items in bulk to be able to request discounts & save on postage.
Where to Buy Costume Items & Some Price Estimates
Our costumes come from all over the place! I often have costume and jewelry items for sale which I post our facebook group & also bring to class. Other dancers will also sell their second hand costuming in the facebook group so keep an eye out there. When there is a specific item required for a performance like the Steampunk Festival etc there will be a link posted in the facebook group for everyone to get it from the same source, or we may purchase them all together.
As much of our costuming is from ebay etc you don't get to see it before you buy it so if you have any doubt as to whether something is actually what you are looking for feel free to send me a link before you buy it & I'll check it for you.
- Black lace-back top: $15 eBay/Ali Express (ask in group for current link)
- Black-top 25yard dip-dye skirt: $60 - $90 various sellers on eBay/Ale Express etc or second hand from another dancer
- Choli top: $15 - 25 we often do group purchases for these so ask at the time what is on high rotation for performances
- Pantaloons: $20 most often we make these ourselves or at a sewing bee as we like them more voluminous than those available online. Ask for a pair to take home if you'd like to copy the design to sew your own, they are pretty straightforward to make.
A Note About New Performance Troupe Costuming in 2020
Most years there are a few 'official troupe costume' items that all current regular performance troupe members should purchase or make, examples are the yellow dip dye skirts we did a bulk order for, the Steph skirts, the sparkly red panels for CCCiTP & the Theatre Royal performance and our brocade pantaloons etc.
For 2020 there won't be any official troupe costume items that current or new members of the performance troupe all need to purchase; I would like to avoid anyone feeling pressure to purchase group items when finances may be less predicable or secure than prior to the lockdown - that is not to say that those who would like new costuming won't be able to perform in it, just that we need to have an alternative option available already in our wardrobe for those who prefer not to purchase new costuming right now. An example of this will be the red 'assuit' pantaloons that some people are purchasing - the alternative to those will be the existing gold pantaloons which we have spares of, and if some would like to purchase new skirts we can also use those for performances but have a specific alternative option that looks good together and those will become a set.
Any questions about any of the above just let me know!
